Prayer for the Kenya Journey

Thank you for praying with and for my ministry with Tentmakers. In many ways, I consider this “our” ministry because your share in it through prayer, encouragement and supporting gifts is so important. The work that we are about is intensely spiritual as we carry the torch of the gospel in this generational relay that has its roots in the beginning of time and has burned ever more brightly since the Light of the world, Jesus, came into the world. “4In him was life, and that life was the light of men.” (John 1:4) I am writing today to encourage you to pray for the next three weeks of ministry with daily focus as I travel and interact with pastors and missionaries who are carrying the light of the gospel to thousands in Kenya and East Africa.

As you may know, tomorrow (Friday 1/6/06), I leave on my first journey to Africa to teach at ICM Seminary in Kitale, Kenya. I will be teaching the Gospel of John to a group of 25 pastors from January 10-20. Please take time each day to remember my travels, the students, pastors, missionaries and others who I will be interacting with. Pray that this would be a time of refreshing vision for these pastors and that together we will drink deep from the source of our living water and eat of the bread of life, Jesus. Pray that the Good Shepherd will teach these undershepherds of his flocks from the Word, how they can impart the message of the gospel to their people in new and fresh ways.

I will write about my journey as I get the opportunity in the computer lab at the seminary and at internet cafes or friends personal computers along the way. I will have a camera with me, but am unsure about connection speeds and software needed to add photos. I’m sure I’ll have plenty to share with you when I return.

Finally, there is one prayer item that I just learned about today. I’m flying with Northwest and KLM. Northwest has a bankruptcy court hearing on January 17 in which NWA lawyers will ask the court to reject their current contracts with pilots, flight attendants, and ground workers. This has put added pressure on their current negotiations with these unions. Today the Star Tribune reported that the flight attendants union has said it may strike if a bankruptcy judge allows Northwest to reject its union contract. The other two unions representing pilots and ground workers have also said they may strike if Northwest gets its way in court. This would shut down the airline and could leave me stranded mid-trip. Please pray for these issues to be resolved without a strike.